Signs that snoring is a medical problem
How to determine medical condition of snoring
Individuals that sleep or lie awake next to her snore many times reports signs that could indicate more serious issues for the snorer. Witnessing gasping or stopped breathing often suggests problems related to breathing such as sleep apnea or it may also signal heart problems. Jerking movements many indicate problems like periodic limb movements or RLS (restless leg syndrome).
Often sleep is disrupted by snoring and individuals often notice symptoms that are sometimes also related to this disturbance. In many cases people complained of insufficient sleep and/or difficulty rising in the morning. They often take afternoon naps and fall asleep at events such as meetings. In severe cases of sleep disturbance people have been known to fall asleep at work or when driving their car.
A sleep study may have to be performed if problems related to sleeping are suspected. There are two basic types of sleep studies. The at-home study measures the parameters of basic sleep and breathing. It includes apnea events, recording movement, snoring, and pulse oximetry (measuring how concentrated the oxygen is in the bloodstream). Home studies are often used to rule out sleeping disorder. In the event that the home study shows there is a problem than a full clinical study or polysomnography may need to be performed.
After performing an at-home sleep study and there are no signs of breathing and or sleeping disorders than individual has what is known as primary snoring.The various options for treatment may then be discussed.
Tests that measure sleepiness objectively
It is often helpful when an individual has problems falling asleep during the day to try and major just how sleepy they may be. Many times after treating problems related to sleep, we also need to determine or measure if there has been an improvement made in daytime sleeping. To measure sleepiness we use MSLT (Multiple Sleep Latency Test). This past is used to measure how quickly an individual may fall to sleep during a time hours. This must be performed after a polysomnography has been performed in order to accurately document sleep opportunity of the previous night. The standard of this test is made up of four to five naps all in duration of around 20 minutes each in typically done at two-hour intervals. The patient is asked to fall asleep. The average time it takes the patient to fall asleep during these naps is then calculated and a normal time to fall asleep would exceed 10 minutes. Patients are generally fall asleep in less than five minutes are considered to have an excessive sleepiness.
The MWT (maintenance of wakefulness test) is also used to measure an individual’s need for daytime sleep. The test subject is asked to stay awake for 40 minute sessions spaced at two-hour intervals and tested four different times.
Many businesses have adopted these tests in their everyday practice to insure their employees do not sleep excessively while on-the-job. Industry specifics include truck drivers, airline pilots, are often the target of these tests to ensure productivity and public safety. Today there is however, not a single cast they can guarantee 100% that an individual or an employee will not sleep on the job. |
